Chapter 37: The First Taste of War
Barkan struggled to contain her giggling. But no matter how she held her breath or scrunched her face, Link could still hear her.
"What's got you in such a good mood?" Link asked, as he scanned around the camp, making certain that no Lizalfos drew close.
"He said I was a Gerudo," Barkan whispered. As if she didn't quite believe what she was saying.
And she shouldn't. Link had been standing right next to her. All Ganondorf had actually said was she didn't know how to act like one of them. He wanted to point that out, but this was the best mood he'd ever seen Barkan in. Why ruin that?
Up ahead of the caravan the Goron's supply train came into view. The stonemen scooped up piles of dirt to form a small dry moat and piled the rocks behind it into a small wall. It did not look like much. But Bethmasse drilled into his mind the importance of these small advantages. If they disrupted a Lizalfos charge for only a few breaths, then that was time to prepare yourself or attack.
The Gerudo had their own method of setting up defenses. As the front wagons reached the Goron's position they pulled around. The other wagons trailed behind until they formed a large circle.
One of the older Gerudo waggoneers ordered Link and Barkan to unlatch the horses from the wagons and carts. He tried to protest and told them that Commander Nabooru already gave him a difficult task. But they only laughed.
Barkan and he worked fast. They'd unfasten the horse from their yokes and horse trainers led them away to eat and rest. Once the animals were removed, camp followers attached planked wooden shields between the wagons. Leaving no gap between them.
Once the palisade finished, Link climbed atop one wagon and searched the area. Ignoring the sound of others setting up tents and preparing food. He looked for Lizalfos, of course, but also tried to determine what made this spot good camp ground. Ganondorf must have chosen it for a reason. The territory was mostly flat, or at least, as flat as the mountainside allowed. There was a hill nearby, but it was not large enough for the supply column to camp on. It was barely large enough for the five Gorons that now wrestled atop it. Were they supposed to be the lookout?
No, more than that. The hill couldn't hold an army, but a few archers set on it would be able to loose arrows down on the Gerudo and the Gorons. Putting some defenders on the hill to prevent any such attack was clever.
Past the hill, some trees grew in a cluster. He wouldn't call them a woods, but together the trees looked more like home than anything he'd seen so far.
What animals lived there? Were there squirrels and spiders and wolves? Do squirrels live this high up mountains? Were there fairies?
He shook his head to dislodge the thought. Focus! Nabooru gave him a task, to protect the people of the supply caravan. And that's what he would do. It did not matter if everyone in the battle was his enemy, many of these people had no idea of the Gerudo Kings wickedness. And he would not let harm come to them because of him.
It was an important task, and a difficult one as well. Thankfully, he was not alone.
"It's an insult, is what it is. I'm not that badly hurt. I should be out there in the battle." Two Gerudo warriors passed behind him. The younger of the pair walked with a limp as she followed an old, wrinkled woman. Both armed and armored.
"Quit complaining," the older one said. "You were given the easy assignment for once. Just enjoy it."
"There's no glory in that."
"There's no death either. You're young, you'll win your glory when you heal up."
The younger of the two harrumphed as they passed below his wagon.
The older looked up. "Anything out there, voe?"
"Only Gorons."
"As it should be," she nodded as the pair continued on their way.
Other soldiers sat about the campsite or wandered about conversing amongst themselves. As far as Link could tell, none of them were the best of the Gerudo. Mostly the very old, the very young, and the wounded. But they were still soldiers, and they didn't seem as interested in the defense as they could be.
That meant it was on him. He searched the hill, the ravines and cliff-faces. But his eyes always glided back to those trees. After the fourth time of forcing himself to look elsewhere, he noticed someone heading toward them from the Goron camp.
"Yadunby!" Link waved to his friend. "Yadunby! Over here!"
The Goron waved back, walking the length between the two camps. He stopped at the foot of the wagon on which Link stood. "Hello, young hero!"
"Shush!" Link glanced around to make certain no one heard. Barkan was the closest to him, but she was craning her neck to try and get a glimpse of the battle and did not pay him any heed. Behind her, a few Gerudo mulled about wasting time. And as fortune had it, the blacksmith pounded iron into arrowheads. And though she was a ways away, the noise created a useful cover for their conversation. "I told you, you can't call me that."
"Sorry, goro."
"Just please try and remember. And keep your voice down. Any word?"
"Message came from the Chief. All is as you two planned. They reached the battlefield well ahead of the lizards and the Gerudo and took their position. Do you think it will work?"
"Of course," Link hoped his voice sounded sure. In truth, he didn't know near enough about the intricacies of a battle. So, he whispered Darunia's words from days before, when they made their plans. "With no way to maneuver their army the Gerudo will be forced to stay still and fight. And if they try anything, Chief Darunia's new weapon will destroy them."
It sounded good. But Link knew almost nothing about Darunia's weapon. What if it didn't work as well as he hoped? What if the Gerudo betrayed them anyway? How many would die to it? Ganondorf, hopefully. But what about the others? Bethmasse? Nabooru? He had gotten to know them these last weeks. What happens when none of them come back?
But he couldn't voice those fears now. Not with Yadunby anxious already.
"I hope you are right, goro."
"And what about those sent to the Crown?"
"No word."
That was not a good sign. Darunia said he would send messengers every night, and so far none returned. Had they delivered their warnings to protect the Ruby? Or had the lizards hunted them all down?
"I should have gone. I'm quieter than a Goron. Smaller too. I'd get through."
"I do not doubt you, young hero, but the Chief-"
An explosion echoed down the mountain. The big Goron covered his face with his arms. Link grabbed the hilt of his sword as he looked in the direction of the battle. A puff of gray sprouted into the air.
"What was that?" Barkan shouted. Other Gerudo and camp followers broke from their duties and conversations. Many rushed to the wagons, weapons in hand. Prepared to battle whatever calamity befell them.
Yadunby peaked out through his fingers. "It is far away from me. It will not hurt me. It will not."
"Was that the weapon?" Link asked.
Yadunby nodded. "I do not know if that bodes good or ill. But he has used the bombs."
Another explosion rang out as even more smoke filled the sky. Now everyone in the camp came to look. Some even crawled atop the wagons. They rocked the one Link stood on, pressed against him, and almost knocked him off. He tried to shove them back and make some room for himself. But they were all so much bigger than him. And now, he couldn't talk to Yadunby about anything important or everyone would hear.
"What did you say that was?" a Hylian camp-follower asked Yadunby, as he squinted at the smoke.
"They call it a bomb. An iron shell filled with black powder. You set it to flame, and when that happens-"
As if to emphasize what he was saying, another black cloud burst through the air, followed by a loud boom.
"It explodes. It is very dangerous. I do not like it."
"I do!" Barkan squeezed her way past the others to get close to Yadunby. "Does it set everything on fire? It's making smoke. But I thought the lizards like fire."
"It is disgusting," the wounded Gerudo said. "Where is the skill? You don't prove yourself a warrior by having shells and powder stealing your glory."
"You going to tell the king to stop using trebuchets against walls then?" The old Gerudo said.
"That's different."
"It really isn't."
Others piped up with their own opinions, ranging from fear to confusion to anger. Link remained quiet. Who did Darunia use the bombs upon? Lizards or Gerudo? He thought of Mulli or Nabooru caught up beside one of those bombs. Or even Bethmasse, as harsh as she could be. His stomach felt queasy. He didn't want to see any of them- No. Focus. There might still be enemies out there.
He returned to his duty, but after a few moments his sight wandered back to the woods. What would father have thought of all this? He would have been horrified. He'd have sighed through the wind in his branches and said something wise. 'One life lost in conflict is tragedy, my son. How many more dost these bombs create?' Or something like that. But what if destruction could save the world? Or even some of the Gorons that fought to defend their homes?
The branches of the trees rippled, as if the great tree himself reached through them to show his displeasure. Link sighed. Perhaps if father could hear the question, he'd have a better answer.
Link frowned, as he watched the waving treeline. Why were the branches moving? The wind did not blow in the direction they moved. And if the force of Darunia's bombs struck against them, they'd fall forward away from the battle. But these waved side to side. They moved as if something pushed the limbs out of the way. As though something within them headed toward the camps.
"Yadunby."
"Yes, young he- young Link?"
"What animals live up here?"
"Not many, I'm sorry to say. There are some foxes and rabbits, but few live so near the Crown."
"Oh." The branches still shook. "I think you need to get in here."
"Is something wrong?" Yadunby looked over his shoulder, his terror causing his voice to crack.
"Get to safety." Link turned to the warriors on the wagon with him. "Hey! Hey! Look. There's something over there!"
"Stop shouting," Barkan said. "There's nothing over there."
The trees moved again.
"Look!"
From the shadows of the thicket something big and green stepped out.
"See!" Link turned to Barkan, but she stared wide-eyed.
The Lizalfos roared and a dozen more lizards appeared from the treeline. Most had snow and mud on their shoulders and snout. How long had they lay hidden?
"Weapons!" Link called as loud as he could. "They're coming! Weapons!"
"Good!" shouted one of the warriors as she pulled out her swords. "I will win my glory today!" Up on the hill the Gorons pounded a drum of warning.
Yadunby stood with his mouth open. "I- I need-"
"Get inside!" Link said. "Come on, climb up!"
"Oh," Yadunby turned back toward Link mouth agape. His eyes filled with fear. "I don't-"
"Climb up!" Link held out his hand. As the Goron's massive hands wrapped around his own, Link realized his mistake. As Yadunby tried to pull himself up, he nearly dragged Link off the wagon. "Let go! Let go!"
"I'm sorry, goro!" Yadunby let go of Link's arm and tried to grasp the wagon. But he was far too heavy. The wood cracked under the weight of his arm.
"Back away," one of the Gerudo knocked at Yadunby's fingers with the butt of her spear. "You're breaking our wall. Get away, you dumb brute. Away!"
"But, but-" Yadunby glanced over his shoulder at the horde of lizards charging toward him.
"We can't leave him out there!"
"Watch us, voe." the limping Gerudo snarled.
"Maespa," the other hissed. "I'm sorry, but the lizards are too close. Hide, Goron. Flee, your life depends on it."
"I can't- I can't."
He was panicking, exactly as he did when the lizards first attacked him. More poured out of the trees, so many that Link couldn't count them all. Hundreds of them.
"Get off the wagon!" Link shouted. "Come on, off the wagon."
"Shut up, voe," the warrior pushed Link aside. "Come on Lizards! My blade is ready!"
"Get off!" Link rushed toward the warrior and pushed her as hard as he could. She stepped back on her wounded foot, her leg crumbled up and she tumbled backward off the wagon.
"You little-" she shouted as she got back to her feet. "I'm going to kill you, voe!"
"Barkan get them off the wagon!" He tried to push another, but that one saw him coming and did not budge. Not knowing what else to do, he jumped from the wagon and landed beside his friend. And before the charging lizards. "Yadunby!"
"What?" Yadunby glanced at Link beside him and blinked. "I'm going to die."
"No, you are not. You're tough, you're strong. Push the wagon!"
Yadunby's eyes narrowed as he seemed to recognize where Link stood. "Why are you- Link you doomed yourself beside me! Quick, come to my hand. I can throw you back up."
"No. Listen to me. You're a Goron. You're strong. Push the wagon!"
"Oh," the Goron finally understood what Link was saying. "I think I can do that." He put his hands on the wagon and shoved. It wobbled more than moved.
"Get off it!" Link yelled up at those still on the wagon.
"Link this is stupid! Even for you!" Barkan shouted down at him. She dropped down to her knees and reached toward him. "Take my hand. They're almost here!"
"Get them off the wagon!" Link shouted again, he lowered his shoulder and charged at it. Smashing against the wood. It stung his side, but he pushed at it again and again. Grunting and growling with hand and shoulder and elbow. He dug his feet into the snow. "Move! Move!"
The wagon rocked, then it shifted. The wheel lifted from the ground and moved a whole pace away.
Link looked up to see Yadunby pushing at the war-wagon with all his might. The Goron opened his mouth, and Link half expected a roar of exertion, but instead there was a long whine. "Eeehhhhhhhhhh." The wagon shifted again, this time far easier than the first. Someone was shouting on the other side. But Link could not make out what they said over the lizards behind him. Hissing and spitting and cackles all punctuated by hundreds of feet stampeding right toward him.
"That's it Yadunby!" Link said as the wagon lurched that last foot to make a hole wide enough for even a Goron. "Go, go!" he slapped the back of his friend's leg.
"Oh!" Yadunby said, as he turned to look over his shoulder.
"Don't look behind us! Just run!" Link shoved at his back. That got the Goron moving, Link a step behind him as they burst through the hole in the wooden wall.
"They're in! Shut it! Shut it!" Barkan shouted.
"Yadunby! Help them!" Link said as he sprinted well into the safety of the caravan before he could turn around.
"Oh!" the Goron spun about and shoved the wagon. Several of the Gerudo and camp followers joined him.
A lizard leaped through the gap, screaming, and waving its claws. Link unsheathed his sword and stepped toward the creature. But before he could fight, a Gerudo thrust at the beast with her spear, forcing the creature back. Then with a loud thump the wagon went back into place.
"Back to positions!" an old Gerudo shouted as she grabbed onto the wagon and hoisted herself up top. But before she reached the top, several Lizalfos clambered onto it from the other side. She hacked at them with her blade. Gerudo and camp followers joined her, Barkan screaming amongst them. The soldiers wielding spears and swords, the others bore tent nails and mallets. Whatever they could fight with.
The woman with the spear and the wounded foot turned and noticed Link. She frowned as she walked toward him.
"Thank you," Link said. "I don't think-"
The side of the spear hit Link on his chin and toppled him to the ground. Then the point of the blade prodded at his neck. "I should kill you for pushing me off the wagon." She hissed. "You make a fool of me? I don't think so, voe."
"I needed to save Yadunby."
She pressed the spear toward him, he could feel it poke into his skin and a thin line of liquid trickle down his neck. "You think I care about that Goron?"
Link let his head get forced back but did his best not to look away. He still had his sword in hand, could he swing at the spear and knock it away without it killing him first? It did not seem likely.
"No, but…" what was there to say? He glanced to his side to find Yadunby, but the Goron was slumped over his head in his hands, his shoulders shaking. The man was not built for this excitement. No help there. "But if you hurt me, you will have to deal with my master."
"Ahh, so you're a slave? All the better."
"No! I'm Bethmasse's squire. You know Commander Bethmasse, don't you? One of King Dragmire's chosen guards, now leading part of his army out there. She can have quite a temper."
The spear pulled back; the woman frowned. "You're that voe? The one who fought Ganondorf?"
"Yes," Link pushed himself back to his feet. He rubbed under his chin with the back of his hand, it came back with a streak of red. "Now, if you're done, you're missing out on your chance for glory." Link gestured behind her to the wagons.
The woman let out a pained rumble from her throat. "Stay out of my way, voe. Next time you touch me even our king can't save you." Then she limped back toward the wagon and pulled herself onto it.
I did it Great Deku, did you see me? I was able to talk her down. I didn't even have to lie or anything. He patted the shield over his shoulder. He would be proud, Link knew it. But there was still more to do.
He moved to his friend's side. Yadunby shook and sobbed into his hands.
"You hurt?"
"Huh?" the Goron looked up from his massive fingers. "Link?"
"Are you hurt?"
"I don't think so."
"You need to get out of here. It's dangerous."
"I was so scared, goro. They were going to kill me."
"I know," Link patted him on his shoulder. "But you have to get up. Head toward the middle of the camp. It'll be safer there."
"I proved myself a coward again, didn't I?"
"Don't worry about that, get to safety."
"You saved me, again."
"Go!"
Yadunby gave him a look, like he wanted to say something, or do something to help. But Link shook his head to stop him. He'd be useless and pretending otherwise would only get someone hurt. Some folks just didn't belong on a battlefield. And hopefully, after today Yadunby would never be on another. The Goron sighed, gave Link a respectful nod. "Be safe, young hero." Then he dived away, rolled up into a ball and fled to safer ground.
Link turned back to the wagons. The warriors had gained control of the top of it. But the fighting was still thick. All along the wagon-wall, lizards swarmed the defenders. Most held their ground. But for how long?
The monsters fought with wild fury. Wielding their crude weapons first, and when those were broken or lost, they clawed or bit their enemies. Slashing at armor or chomping through skin. They'd leap through the air to land on the Gerudo warriors. Grabbing their opponents in their talons like hawks and tearing at them.
Link's heart raced as he swung his shield forward and caught it on his arm. Yadunby would be no aid here. But he could be. He climbed up the wagon. A dead Lizalfos fell behind him, its guts opened and splattered when it landed. Link grit his teeth as he pulled himself to the top.
"Yaaaagh!" Barkan screamed as she hacked at a lizard's claw with a tentspike. She fought with little skill but put her whole weight behind every blow. Even when unnecessary. He'd have to tell her how to fight once this finished. She would exhaust herself like that.
In the close press atop the wagon, her lack of technique mattered little. None of those who fought looked like Bethmasse or Nabooru. They all hacked and stabbed with wild abandon.
One of the lizards crawled behind Barkan, raising a sword it must have stolen from a Gerudo. Link pushed himself forward and smashed his shield into its face. It toppled back off the side of the wagon. Smashing its back against the wooden palisade. It slumped off it, rolling to the ground outside the barrier. As it struggled to get up, other Lizalfos crawled over it. Pressing the creature into the ground as though they didn't see it. Or didn't care. Trampling over their fallen, until it stopped moving completely.
If that was how they treated their friends, what would they do to their enemies?
Link hacked and thrust his sword at the monsters with renewed vigor. They could not get inside. He would not let them.
Beside him the man screamed. He once fought the monsters with a butcher's knife but now the knife was gone along with the fingers that held it. One of the Lizalfos jumped on him, tearing at his face and throat. The old Gerudo warrior, stabbed the creature in the back and kicked the lizard off the man.
But even Link could see it was too late. Red gushed across the man's torn throat, as he cried and tried to hold his neck together. The Gerudo that tried to save him shook her head and pressed her sword into his chest to end his misery. Then she returned to fighting as though nothing happened.
Nabooru's word on the horror of battle returned. Her warning rang in his ears as he hacked at the creatures. Stabbing one in the eye and cutting another across its tail. As his heart pounded, and he felt that rush, that beautiful rush that made the world fit together. Glory and misery. All jumbled together.
He loved it. And he hated that he loved it.
One of the monsters died clawing at his shield. Link looked about for his next opponent, only to see another crawl onto the wagon. Only it didn't lash out against the defender. The monster lifted a great axe and smashed it down onto the wagon itself. Timbers split apart. Another strike and a section of the wagon caved in.
The old Gerudo had been standing near the crack, fighting another of the monsters. Her foot slid into the hole. She couldn't move. Still, she swung with her blade at any who came close to her. Even as Barkan tried to grab her around the waist and pull her free.
Another lizard threw a shield made of tortoise shell at the old soldier, catching her arm and knocking her to the side.
Link shouted as he jumped over the hole to protect her. But something struck him in the back, and instead he fell to his knees. His hand slid into the hole, and only through luck did it not get stuck as well. He spun about and swung his blade. More by chance than anything he managed to slash the creature that hit him. The lizard fell back, clutching at its wounded leg. Link scrambled to his feet.
Barkan screeched. Link twisted around to see her with blood splattered across her eyes. The old warrior lay dead in her hands. A gash across her chest where a Lizalfos axe tore through armor and flesh and bone.
Before he could say anything, a claw slammed beside him. The hand of the biggest Lizalfos he'd ever seen grabbed the side of the wagon and pulled. Wood splintered apart and the wagon shook.
"We need to get off!" Link shouted. "It's about to fall."
A Gerudo gave her warcry and charged at the big Lizalfos. Stabbing it with a broken spear in one hand and a shortsword in the other. The monster roared as it continued to destroy the wagon. Even as it bled the lizard broke the side clear off. The roof of the wagon slumped to the side. Link waved his arms to balance himself out.
"Get off the wagon!" Link shouted to everyone still alive and fighting. "We got to leave! Go!"
The warrior screamed as she thrust her sword into the lizard's skull. "Die!" she shouted. "Die! Die!"
She had gone mad. Link turned around and ran. Barkan still screamed and clung to the dead old warrior.
"Come on!" Link grabbed her across the chest and jumped from the roof. He landed on his feet as Barkan yelped and fell on her rear.
A creak sounded behind them. Link turned in time to see the roof of the wagon collapse. What few people remained fighting on it fell into the Lizalfos horde.
"Die!" He could still hear the one called Maespa screaming as she tumbled into the enemy. "Die! Die! Die! Die!" And then Link could not hear her anymore.
"They're dead." Barkan whispered. "They're all dead."
Link stood up and pulled Barkan to her feet. "But we're not. Can you still fight?"
Barkan held up the tent spike in a shaky hand, smothered in blood. "I- I can." But her voice and her words did not match. She sounded more like Yadunby than Bethmasse.
The wagon shook. The lizards tore at it from the other side. They'd be through soon. And theirs was not the only wagon in the chain lost. Other points along the wall had already been overrun. Lizalfos rushed over and under wagons, pouring into the tents.
"Come on," Link took the older girl's hand and pulled her away. It took a few steps before she could run.
"They've broken through!" Link called. "Fall back! Fall back!"
Once she realized what he was doing, Barkan lent her voice to his. "They're inside the camp! Look out!"
Some few listened, others ignored them and fought on.
Couldn't they tell that that the Lizalfos would surround them if they stayed on the wagons? He wanted to shout for them to pay attention, to drag them back to safety. But the Lizalfos drew close. Their breath steamed the air around them, and wild rage gleamed from their bulbous eyes.
"Come on," Barkan said and tugged him away from the wagons and those doomed warriors who stayed there. They let go of each other and sprinted deeper into the camp.
There was no second line of defense. The wall was breached and there was nothing for Link to fall back to. All that they had were the tents set up for the night. And tents did not seem the best means of protecting oneself, but it was better than nothing.
"What do we do?" Barkan said, panic in her voice. She fidgeted with her spike as she looked all around.
"I have an idea," Link once more took her hand and headed toward the very center of the camp.
"Where are we going?" She said, but she did not pull away.
"I said I had an idea."
"Your last idea was jumping in front of an oncoming army!" But she followed. They ran past the few defenders that remained. Some old women who could hardly stand. Others serving girls and young Hylian men who looked terrified.
He did not stop until he reached Ganondorf's tent. The largest structure in the camp, double the size of any of the other tents. The wooden beams that held it up were thicker than the others, and it was covered in hides. Link grabbed the leather and skins of the tent and rubbed it. It was thick, not exactly thick enough to stop a sword cut. But it would slow the enemy down, more than anywhere else. And that's what he needed if he could slow them down enough then… then…
There was nothing else was there? Nowhere to run. If he tried to flee down the mountain alone then he and Barkan would die. All he could do was try to hold up in this tent and fight as long as he could.
"What are you doing?" Barkan pulled her hand away from Link's.
"Come on, in here." Link said as he found the tentflap and opened it for her.
"We can't. That's the king's tent."
"So? It's the safest place we have."
Barkan looked around them. Someone screamed a distance away, a loud shrieking of a dying woman. Her body went rigid, and her eyes went wide. She let out a pained groan and followed Link inside. Link sealed the tent behind them, doing his best to tie it down.
"Here," Barkan said. She opened a pouch at her hip and pulled out a needle and thread. She worked quick, weaving the needle through the canvas far faster than Link had ever seen anyone sew. "There," she said as she finished. "Not my best work, but it'll keep it closed better than whatever you were trying to do."
Outside, lizards hissed and cackled. A warrior tried to give the Gerudo war song, but no one matched her. Did she stop singing because she gave up on the song? Or did the Lizalfos quiet her for good?
Yadunby was out there still. He must be so afraid.
He couldn't worry about him now. There must be something useful in the tent. Ganondorf must have wanted it set up earlier for a reason. But it was so sparse. Link imagined the Gerudo King would live in luxury. Like the room he broke into in Hyrule Castle. With paintings and coins and comfortable furniture with thick cushions everywhere. Instead, he found a bedroll as everyone else slept on, only larger. A single blanket. A lantern placed above a writing desk, a few scrolls, and a box. The box! Ganondorf wanted that box, so much he made the caravan stop.
There had to be something in that box.
"What are you doing?" Barkan snapped as he reached for it. "That's the king's."
"What does that matter? He's not here."
"No! Put it down. He's the king, and we're not. We shouldn't even be here, much less go through his things."
"Then why did you sew us in? The whole point was to use what we have here to defend ourselves."
"Oh," she said and looked back over her work. "We can't get out, can we? We're stuck in here."
A crack of sword on armor came from outside. From far closer than Link would have liked. They were coming.
"Let's get ready. Barkan. Barkan?"
The girl wasn't answering, she had her back to Link, but he could tell that her hands were wiping at her eyes. The spike in her hand wobbling far closer to her face than Link liked.
"Barkan, are you ok?" Link went to her side and reached up to her arm.
"No," she sobbed. "My name's not Barkan. I just told them it was because I thought it sounded more Gerudo."
"Oh," Link said, more than a little puzzled why she would be telling him that now. "Well, what do you want me to call you?"
"My name is Rosa."
"Well, Rosa, we're still here."
She pulled her hands away from her face and looked down on the bloodied spike she clutched. "My mom was a seamstress. I was going to grow up to be a seamstress in a little village that nothing happened in. I was always tougher than all the boys, and smarter. And I was going to spend the rest of my life as a stupid seamstress? It wasn't fair. I wanted to go out, I wanted to prove myself. I wanted to be like them."
A lizard roared and a man screamed and screamed and screamed. His howls interrupted by scratching and the shifting of dirt and pebbles. They were playing with him before they killed him.
"Link."
"Yes?"
"I want to go home."
"Me too, Rosa."
Battle cries and rattling weapons sounded outside. The camp still fought, and warriors still defended themselves. But they seemed so far away. The clicking steps of lizard talons tapping against the frozen ground were much closer. The hissing of their flickering tongues as they tasted the air.
Link and Barkan - No - Rosa held their breath and watched as lizard silhouettes played against the tent. One of them pressed a claw against the canvas. Moving it up and down, scratching. Rosa squeezed her fingers around his own so tight it hurt.
"I smell you," it hissed as the talons punctured through. "I smell…"
Link let go of Rosa's hand, unsheathed his sword, and plunged it into the creature's claw. The monster hissed. Link pulled his weapon back as the monster thrashed its punctured limb, getting stuck in the torn canvas.
The creature screamed and spat, as it pulled at its now wounded claw. Its maw pressed into the hide trying to bite around its tangled hand.
"Now!" Link shouted to Rosa, the two of them rushed at the creature and stabbed. Even without getting a clear look at the creature, it was obvious where it stood. In moments their blades pierced it several times. It collapsed, its head landing on one of the holes they made in the tent and slumped over. The weight of the body tore the hole open further.
Link could see out of the tent. And two Lizalfos could now see in.
The monsters screeched and rushed at the tent, tearing at the holes.
Rosa gave a shaky shout as she thrust her spike forward. But this time the lizards were ready. One of them caught Rosa's hand and snarled. She tried to pull her arm away, but it wouldn't budge from the monster's grip.
Behind them came another tear. Link turned to find a third Lizalfos poking its snout inside, it was massive. If he rushed it, he might be able to kill the monster as he had the first one. But that would leave Rosa to whatever the creature did to her.
Link raised his sword and ran toward the pair. "Hyuuuuuh!" He released his breath and swung, sinking all his will and weight behind the blow.
The lizard snarled and threw Rosa back, pulling its arm out of the way just in time to avoid Link's sword. Then it swung at him. Link batted the blow aside with his shield. The Lizalfos continued to tear at the tent, until the holes were wide enough to step through.
"Rosa, I have these two! Get the one behind me!"
"Oh!" She scrambled about and shouted, though he couldn't see her.
The two lizards slithered inside and hissed. One with blue scales around its eyes and snout, the other wore a feathered frill around its neck. Two on one, he'd faced that many before. And I nearly died. He raised his shield high and held his sword back. "Well?" He tried to make his voice sound fierce. "Come on!"
Blue face rushed him first. And for a moment he did not face a Lizalfos, but Bethmasse. The lizard's spear became her spear. When it raised the weapon high and slammed it down, it was as she had done to him dozens of times over the last few weeks.
He stepped to the side and let the angle of his shield protect him from the return blow. His footing wide enough apart to steady himself, not too wide to slow him. Just as she taught him. As the spear rose against him, he swung his sword down on the shaft. It struck the ground and gave him enough time to stop on it with all his might.
The Lizalfos screamed as the pole splintered, the spearhead dangling useless to the side. It tried to stab him, anyway. But now it was too small. The creature lunged at him past the point the broken weapon could reach. Unbalanced. Weak. It was nothing to let the creature stumble and focus on the other opponent.
This one held two swords. It snapped at him with sharp teeth, making the feathers ruffle together and shake about his head. It swung with both swords coming from the same side, easy enough to block. The shield caught the first with a thunk, and then the second a moment later. The force of the double blow knocked him back, but Bethmasse had swung harder.
He slashed at the creature, it was fast, lifting its blade to parry, but Bethmasse had been faster. Link shifted his weight and turned the cut into a feint. The blade slipped past the creature's defense and plunged into its hip. The monster lifted its head high and screeched in pain.
Link pulled his sword free and spun around. Just in time to see the Lizalfos with the broken spear drop its weapon and and slash at him with its claws. He met them with his shield and shoved the creature back a step.
They were both at a disadvantage, but they had him surrounded. Well, can't let that happen. Link lifted his shield and stepped away. As the two collected themselves he put his back to one of the great wooden beams holding up the tent.
"Well? That all you two got?"
Feathers lurched forward scurrying on the ground like a snake. But when it stepped on its wounded leg it gave out. Sending it sliding on the floor. Perfect.
One swing was all it took to dispatch the beast. Blue-face did not move toward him at all. It simply watched as its friend died.
"Well? What about you then? Coward!"
The lizard hissed then lowered its shoulders and spun around. Its tail whipped about and smashed into Link. He hadn't been ready for that, his shield out of position. The blow took him in the shoulder and sent him bouncing into the skins of the tent.
He managed to keep on his feet and returned to his battle stance to prepare for the creature's next attack. But the Lizalfos didn't try to attack him. It ran away, but not out of the tent.
"Rosa! Look out!"
The older girl had been fighting her opponent to a standstill. The creature had been smart enough not to get itself caught in the tent. Instead, it swiped at Rosa with an axe while she tried to keep her distance and prod at any opening she had.
She turned to see the lizard, lifted her spike to defend herself from its claws.
And the axe took her in the back.
Rosa's eyes met Link's, her mouth hung open a moment, then she crumpled to the ground.
Blue face ran past the fallen girl and tore open the tent wide enough for his partner with the axe to enter. They snarled and licked the air around Rosa. Enjoying the scent of her blood.
Link ground his teeth together, he wanted to rush forward and kill them both. He wanted to tear them apart and he didn't even particularly like Rosa. She had been nothing but mean to him since he joined the caravan. But she did not deserve this. She just wanted to go home.
But if he ran in like a fool then he'd likely fall beside her. No, his first strategy was still the best. Don't let them surround him and pick them off. He pointed to the Lizalfos with the axe, then smashed his sword onto his shield letting the challenge ring out.
The lizard took the bait, but not as foolhardy as the one Link already killed. He stepped forward at a reasonable pace but kept his axe up the entire time. Ever ready to swing should Link make a wrong move. Blue-Face slunk around the other side, always staying out of Link's reach. Waiting for the time to strike.
Link took a step back and nearly tripped. He had walked on top of Ganondorf's bed roll and blanket. He took another step, so the blanket was all in front of him and waited. When the big one took another step and saw that Link wasn't moving, he swung down in a mighty blow.
Too much force and too obvious. The lizard would have broken through Link's shield with half that much strength. Everything else was wasted effort. As Bethmasse drilled into him again and again. Link stepped aside, letting the axe cut into the blanket. Then Link kicked, the half-torn cloth flew high toward the big one's eyes. The creature tried to bat it aside with the axe but was too slow.
Link ran forward and hacked at its leg. The monster fell to its knees and swung its tail and axe about wildly all around him. The blade smashed into the desk and chair sending chunks of wood flying. Link backed away, making certain that now the two were on the same side of him.
A smile tugged at his lips. He could take them, he was better.
The big one did not like that at all. Still on its knees, it roared and slammed its tail down, sending dirt and debris into the air. Then it lifted its axe high and crashed it into the ground. The earth split. It pulled itself forward and tore the axe from the churned earth. Then slammed the axe down again. Dragging itself closer to Link with each lurching movement. Crushing whatever stood before it. Screeching as drool dripped down its open mouth.
The sight of it almost made Link drop his sword. As the axe came closer, he jumped aside and ran. The beast followed slamming the weapon down again and again. Link led it around the tent, trying to put whatever he could in front of it. Pieces of broken furniture, its own dead allies. But the Lizalfos only screamed and cut whatever was in front of it to pieces as it dragged itself along the ground.
Blue-face ran in front of Link to cut him off. It swiped at Link's face, missing by only a finger's width. But Link could not back away, or the axe would take him. He ducked, rolled between the monster's legs, and jumped back to his feet.
A lizard screeched behind him. He glanced over his shoulder to see the axe protruding from blue-face's side. It must not have gotten out of the mad monster's way fast enough. The big one did not seem to care. It simply heaved the axe up, its companion still dangling from it, and slammed it back to the ground.
Link averted his eyes as blue-face split apart from the force of it. Now there was only one, and it was breathing heavy. The furious advance looked fearsome, but all it had accomplished was killing its only ally and wearying itself out. Don't get overconfident. This one still needed to pay for what it did to Rosa.
Link edged closer, trying to stay out of its reach at its side. The creature's eyes were wide and wild, it thrashed with claw and tail and axe. And whenever it did, Link backed away. Then when the creature stopped, he moved in to provoke another flurry of action. But each time Link did it the shouting and hissing grew lower, and the wild limbs moved slower.
When the monster tried to lift the axe only for it to slip from its grip, Link ran forward and thrust his blade. It slipped through scales and bone and lodged in the creature's skull. When Link pulled his sword free the lizard died.
"Rosa." He ran to the girl, kneeling beside her. The cut along her back was deep enough for him to see bone. Some of her ribs were cleaved clean through. "I'm sorry," he said as he rolled the girl over to see her face. "I should have warned you quicker. I should have been able to stop it. If I hadn't been hit with the tail. If I-"
Rosa shifted, her mouth twitching and her eyes moving beneath her eyelids.
"Rosa?"
She was breathing. By the Goddesses she was still breathing! He rolled Rosa back to her stomach, hoping no more of her blood would spill out. "What do you need?" he asked. But of course, Rosa didn't say anything.
"Ahhh," he looked around the tent. Four dead Lizalfos, none of them looked to have anything like bandages. A dirty tentroll and… the box! Link ran to it. "Please." He whispered as he fiddled with the lid. Its wood felt warm to the touch and so familiar.
He expected the box to be locked, that he would have to cut it open with his sword. But instead it lifted easy, and revealed a skull staring back at him.
"Please, release me."
"Ahh!" Link almost fell back. The skull was talking!
A light glowed from within, first faint, and then a radiant pink. "Please, I've told you everything." It wasn't the bones at all, but a fairy stuck in a bottle.
"Who are you?"
The fairy flew around her confinement. "You?" Her voice strained. "How is it you?"
"What?" Link picked up the bottle. "Do you know me?" Was this fairy from the Lost Woods? Her voice did not sound familiar.
"Oh! You don't- never mind. Release me, please. Before he returns."
"Ganondorf captured you?"
"No, I decided being stuck in a bottle would be fun!"
Of course, that vile man would capture a fairy. What kind of monster does something like that? He took hold of the cap and pulled. "If I release you," he said as he strained with the bottle, "will you help my friend?"
"I don't have time for this. Just open the bottle!"
"I'm trying." With a loud pop the cork came loose.
"Yes!" The pink fairy flew out of the bottle and zipped around the entire tent. "I'm free! Haha!"
"Please!" Link waved at the fairy. "Please, my friend needs your help!"
The fairy's laughter rang out as she flapped her wings faster than Link had ever seen a fairy fly. She spiraled around Link's head. "Sorry, kid. I can do whatever I want! I don't have to do what anyone tells me! Ever again!"
"But Rosa. She's hurt. You can help her, please."
"Then you should have forced me to before you freed me. Moron."
Link frowned. "I'm not a moron."
The fairy just laughed.
Link felt his face start to go red. "Fine! Then go away. I would have freed you no matter what. You were in trouble. You're the one who's just mean." He stomped toward Rosa, trying to think what little he could do. Maybe the blanket could stop the bleeding?
The fairy did one final spin before it lowered itself to get in Link's way, her pink light nearly blinding him. "You actually would, wouldn't you? Even knowing I would leave, you would still free me?"
"Stop taunting me!" Link waved at the fairy to get her away from his face, though me made certain he would not actually hit her. "Rosa needs help, and if you aren't going to do it, I guess I have to try."
"Huh," the fairy sighed. "That's what she saw. I can't believe I'm doing this." She flew to Rosa and landed on her back. "A nasty cut. It hit bone, but it looks like it missed her spine. That's good."
"You're going to help her?"
"Give me a moment. If she's lost too much blood, nothing can save her." Pink light flowed from the fairy into Rosa. Bone shards shifted and fused, sinews formed between muscle and skin, and everything pulled itself together. A great purple scar formed around the edge of the cut at her shoulder all the way down to her hip. The two sides then crawled toward each other meeting in the middle.
"Whooo," the fairy said. "That's about as good as I can get it."
"Link?" came a weak voice.
"Rosa!" Link helped the girl onto her back. "You're alive!" He grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her into a hug.
"Ow! Ow! Ow! Stop!"
The fairy gave a vicious laugh as Link let Rosa go. "She's going to be sore."
"What is that!" Rosa pointed toward the fairy.
"Well, that's my sign to go. Thanks for the help Hylian. We're even now." She flew toward one of the tattered holes in the tent.
"Wait!" Link stood up after her. "You know me, right? You recognized me. So, you're one of the fairies from that fountain."
"A fairy," Rosa whispered. "I was saved by a fairy."
The pink fairy turned back to Link and stopped in front of him. "Let's say I am. So what?"
"Just, please warn everyone what Ganondorf's doing."
"I will."
"And… Navi. Umm, please. Could you tell her… tell her I miss… No. Tell her." Why was this so hard? He had wanted to speak with Navi every day since he left. He wished to yell at her, and he needed her advice, and to tell her how sorry he was. There was so much to say. "Just tell her I hope she's happy."
"Done." Then the fairy flew out of the tent out into the battlefield without another word.
"Come on," Link turned back to Rosa, found her spike on the floor and handed it back to her. "The battle's not over. I can still hear them out there."
"We need to leave," Rosa said, staring at the now open wooden box.
"What? Didn't you hear me. There's still a battle out there."
"Then we need to find another tent. What happens when Ganondorf returns and finds out we stole from him?"
"To save your life."
"I know, and… and thank you. But we need to leave."
Link looked around the tent. Shattered chunks of wood from the desk and chair, and bloody bits of Lizalfos covered the ground. It would be hard to keep his footing if more broke in. And with the holes along the side, just about anyone could do so without struggling.
"Then we leave. But stick close to me."
He took a deep breath, glanced back to Rosa who gave him a reassuring nod. Or at least, as reassuring a nod as one could give when they were pale from bloodloss, tired, and terrified. Shield raised Link walked through one of the tattered holes and out into the camp.
The regret came to him almost immediately. The sounds of the fighting were no longer muffled. The stench of blood and sweat and Lizalfos filled his nose and made the air heavy. After Ganondorf's, the next most defensive tent would be Commander Nabooru's. But that was a ways away.
Still, where else could he go? Perhaps they'd find somewhere just as good along the way. But most the tents were already torn or knocked over.
All around people screamed, and Lizalfos tore through tents and flesh. Some of those strangled cries cut off far before he reached them. He could not save everyone. But he could save one. He could try.
"Stay low. We're going to make it."
Rosa didn't say anything, probably because she didn't believe him. He wasn't certain if he believed himself.
They crouched through the camp, passing the dead and dying. Gerudo, Lizalfos, Hylians, and even a few Gorons mixed among the corpses. None of them were Yadunby at least. When they heard Lizalfos approaching they found spaces to hide until the danger passed. The creatures seemed more like a roaming mob than anything. They didn't look too hard, instead celebrating in the destruction they caused. Only one came close to Link, because it was hacking apart barrels. But the beast grew bored with them after realizing most were empty. It ran off to find its sick pleasure elsewhere.
Once that threat had passed and the two started again on their escape another shriek rang out. This one close, this one punctuated with the cries of a child and the stomp of someone running. Link's stomach turned to knots as he tried to get away from the screams, but he couldn't. He hated it. He couldn't get away.
"Stay here," he said to Rosa, gesturing back towards the barrels.
"What? Where are you going?"
"Just stay here!" He ran towards the noise, passing through the torn tents, broken wagons, and upended carts. He could help one or two more, certainly?
Rounding a corner, he found the source of the screams. A young Gerudo mother with a child maybe half Link's age, their backs to a tent. Before them seven Lizalfos. No, nine as two more slithered from the side. All cackling and prodding at them with spear and sword. Playing with their food.
Nine. He couldn't take them. He'd lose.
Link gulped and stepped out behind the monsters. "Get away from them!" He smacked his sword against his shield. "Cowards! Bullies! Get away!"
Some of them turned. Most glanced over their shoulder, saw him as little threat and returned to tormenting the cornered women.
"I said get away!" Link raised his sword high.
A drumming thump came from behind him. It grew louder and louder. Whatever made the noise must be massive and approached him. He would need to start this fight fast, before it reached him, and this fight would be hopeless. Well, more hopeless than it already was.
"Die!" Link shouted and charged.
One lizard stopped, its eyes grew wide, and it hissed. Others looked at Link as well. Turning away from their prey. One screeched and tried to flee, clawing at tents to escape. All while the mother and daughter lay forgotten.
Are they that afraid of me? He slowed himself so as not to crash into them. Why?
A horse grunted behind him. Link turned, to see a great black horse with a great black rider. Both covered in dirt and blood. Beside them, more Gerudo all on horseback with weapons drawn.
"You are brave, squire." King Ganondorf said as he lifted that sword bigger than Link as easy as a feather and pointed it at the Lizalfos. "But now it is time for you to step aside, so a king can deal his justice."